October 23, 2025 | Around 50 interested community members attended the meeting hosted by ALPA to inform the public and help direct efforts regarding the proposed rezoning of the corner of Stadium & Drake roads. ALPA board members Dok Stevens, Josh Kieser and John Kreuzer each presented detailed facts about the history of the efforts to establish and protect the Preserve, the environmental and safety threats to nature and the general population, and finally specific ways to oppose the rezoning request from residential to commercial. Questions, comments and refreshments rounded out the successful gathering and a copy of the presentation is posted under Current Issues.
History Walk Attracts Over 70 Participants
May 24, 2025 | Mark Hoffman, the knowledgeable historian of the preserve who has first hand experience and is one of the driving forces in achieving the protected status for the land, offered to a crowd of over 70 people, a history talk/tour of Asylum Lake Preserve from 1880s to early 1970s. He had photos and maps from back then and also photos of the cottages and residences that were built during the Hospital days which have just a few remnants left on the ground. It was interesting to be standing in the preserve and imagining what it may have looked like. The morning weather was pleasant and walkers of all ages enjoyed the info, the exercise and the delicious snacks. More historical information can be found here
Although this tour focused on the white people time of this land, it is hoped that in the future to have a discussion of the land and its people prior to 1880.
It is important to know that ALPA is working hard to build a community of like-minded and supportive people who love the preserve. As the preserve is safe for now we will still have challenges ahead concerning the corner of Drake and Stadium. For now things are quiet on the surface with no publicly known plans. But please stay alert to calls to show up at City Hall, or write letters if it becomes necessary. For now, Enjoy the preserve, leave nothing behind.
November 2024 - Updates from a busy year at ALPA
Garlic Mustard pull: On April 27, nearly 30 volunteers from ALPA, local high schools, and WMU helped with removal of garlic mustard, an invasive plant, in selected areas of the preserve. This event has been an annual event and is planned again for sometime next spring.
Controlled burn: In May WMU conducted a controlled burn, as they have been doing for many years. Controlled burns are tentatively scheduled to take place in forested management areas F4 and F7 in the spring/summer of 2025. Effort will be made to inform the public of these maintenance projects as the management council continues with restoration of under canopy native planting in the preserve.
Water level drainage problem: Beaver deceiver and water level management efforts continue as maintenance for the continued flow of Big Asylum lake into Little Asylum Lake. The clearing away of vegetation debris has been handle by a few dedicated volunteers and Management crewmembers, if interested in helping with this ongoing maintenance project please contact Tom Sauber. When the deceiver is blocked with debris the lake level rises, which can negatively affect some species nesting along its edge.
Management plan update: The Asylum Lake Preserve Management Council is in the process of updating its management plan for the Preserve. ALPA has been providing input and has prioritized a number of areas it would like to see addressed: water quality improvements, creating a tree buffer along Drake Rd., native species improvements & invasive species mitigations, oak forest management, keystone species balance, community engagement and education,and trail maintenance. Paul McNellis will temporarily take the lead in implementing the plan at this time.
Trail management and erosion: Efforts to control erosion and accommodate the flow of water off of trails have recently been addressed during 2024 and will continue over the next few years as climate deals us more and stronger rain events. You may have noticed the addition of gravel to some trails, which is helping to slow the erosion.
Beaver management, tree wraps: In order to protect young oak trees from being harvested by beavers, a screen protector has been installed on the vulnerable trees around the lake's edge. This will be another ongoing project as each year already wrapped trees will need to have their screen sleeves enlarged to accommodate yearly growth.
Instagram, planned newsletter: ALPA now has its own Instagram account. Follow us @asylum_lake_association for news, happenings, and snapshots of what wildlife is out and about.We will also email a digital newsletter out soon. Check for links on this site under About/Newsletters, on Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for volunteers and stewardship plans: ALPA has been looking into developing a stewardship program, possibly in coordination with WMU. We are hoping to secure a list of potential, dedicated volunteers that would help throughout the year with projects such as: garlic mustard removal, trash and trail cleanup, erosion control, tree and flora plantings preparation and maintenance, beaver damage mitigation efforts, and informative walks. If you are interested in joining us a steward you can volunteer here.
Workday- blight and trash clean-up: Our planned fall cleanup day has been postponed until spring as well, but we encourage any visitors to bring a bag and collect any trash they see as they walk.
Tree planting: ALPA had hoped to have a fall planting project, but due to application of a fall herbicide in the designated areas, it has been postponed until spring.We will keep you posted!
Deer issues, EHD: A number of deer have been found in the Preserve, especially in the lake. They appear to have died from EHD, Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease; symptoms drive the deer to water to drink. The disease is transmitted by midges, and not from deer to deer, or to other animals or humans. Hopefully, favorable conditions for the insect breeding will decrease next year.
Dog leash efforts, fishing reminders: ALPA has been instrumental in providing some signage to remind fishermen to take care and remove all tackle from lake and shore to keep wildlife safe. Also, signs remind dog walkers to keep their pets on a leash to prevent damage to sensitive nesting areas for birds and animals.
Community partners: Some of our Board members recently met informally with The Stewards of Kleinstuck in an effort to coordinate efforts among different groups with similar goals. We are pleased to see the Oakland Drive Winchell Neighborhood Association has joined the MI adopt-a-drain program. Neighbors sign up to clean and monitor storm drains which lead to neighborhood waterways, including Asylum Lake.
Schools and groups using the Preserve: We have been pleased to see schools visiting Asylum Lake. Winchell School fourth-graders recently explored the Preserve to sketch, observe wildlife and enjoy a nature scavenger hunt. A group of students from Mattawan also enjoyed a similar field trip. While groups are welcome and encouraged to visit, please note that WMU requests that you contact them first so that there is no conflict with other groups or work projects.
Engagement with Imagine Kalamazoo 2035 Greenspace and the Environment: Some members of the ALPA board will be meeting with volunteers from other environmental organizations to discuss ways to provide positive feedback and suggestions to the city regarding future planning. We encourage all citizens to provide input as well. Here are some links to those surveys:
Imagine Kalamazoo Imagine It Survey Strategic Goals Survey
Community Shows Support at Special Informational Meeting
On October 21, ALPA hosted an informational meeting for the community, with opportunities for input and discussion, at the Disciples of Christ Church on Winchell Ave. Members of the ALPA Board and community gave presentations on a variety of topics: controlled burns, informational shadow boxes, the river otters, living with the beavers and their work, history of the Preserve and how it is currently funded, native and invasive plants, water runoff and remediation, parking and access to the Preserve and threats to the Preserve - most recently the proposed development at Stadium and Drake.
ALPA thanks all the more than 60 people who attended and helped to inform our future efforts.
A more detailed accounting of the meeting can be found here.
Gathering Celebrates the Preserve as a Community Treasure
May 25, 2023 | Close to a hundred people gathered Saturday May 20, at the Drake Rd. entrance, to celebrate and enjoy The Asylum Lake Preserve at an event sponsored by ALPA with the help of WMU. Visitors enjoyed refreshments and live music as they viewed and enjoyed informational and educational displays and presentations by these community groups: Citizen’s Climate Lobby and Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition, Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, ALPA, Western Michigan University, Stewards of Kleinstuck, Kalamazoo Wild Ones, Ardea and National Youth Coalition for the Environment, and the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Tours by local experts were very popular and engaged many new and returning visitors. Tyler Bassett led a group of walkers through the preserve discussing the varied plant life, including both native and non-native species. Donna Keller’s tour gave many bird lovers chances to spot and learn about birds and our current waterfowl visitors. Mark Hoffman walked a group of life-long learners through part of the preserve where the old asylum buidlings were located, and provided both an interesting chronology and a fascinating history.
The ALPA board would like to thank all those who attended or participated for their continued support that gives our community the opportunity to share and learn more about our amazing and precious world of nature near and afar.
Join Us for a Special Gathering!
April 2023 ALPA is honored to be hosting a Community Gathering at Asylum Lake Preserve. This event will be held on May 20th from 12:00 noon to 4pm at the Drake Road Entrance.
Join us for some music, light refreshments, displays and conversations with local environmental and nature groups, and an assortment of tours of the Preserve with our local experts. We look forward to you helping us celebrate Asylum Lake Preserve, increasing community awareness and providing support for this Community Treasure.
New Shadow Boxes at Entrance Focus on Seasons
ALPA has redesigned the shadow boxes at each entrance to the Preserve. We plan to update these seasonally and would love to hear your thoughts and comments on how they enhance your experience. Make sure to stop and take a look, learn and enjoy this natural space. Happy Spring!
New Brochure and Trail Markers
(January 2021) ALPA and the Asylum Lake Preserve Management Council have been working together on two important initiatives over the past few months: Committees have been working on marking and describing the trails to make it easier for those visiting the preserve to enjoy its beauty and protect its natural features and living things as well, especially by staying on the trails. ALPA has created a new brochure with the updated information describing interesting sights and facts relating to each trail. Trees throughout the Preserve have been marked with blue, green, red and yellow diamonds to indicate the major trails. You can find the complete brochure and maps at all of the three entrances (in the near future) as well as in pdf form on the Trail Maps page in this website.
Where Youngsters Learn to Love the Land
Students journal and experience nature up close up as they learn to be stewards of the land at the Asylum Lake Preserve
The day starts with Buster Bronco welcoming third graders to the 274-acre Asylum Lake Preserve. The 150 students from four schools – Mattawan Early Elementary, Montessori School in Kalamazoo, El Sol Elementary and Woodward Magnet of Kalamazoo Public Schools – are about to spend the day on the land. The day grew from the Kalamazoo No Child Left Inside Initiative developed by the Kalamazoo Nature Center and is rooted in the understanding that children who have positive experiences outside are more likely to become conservation stewards. Its goal is to get students outdoors to explore, observe, appreciate and connect with the natural environment and each other.
The program has been ongoing for four years now. It started with a pilot program in 2010 for 68 students and has welcomed nearly 150 students for the day in each of the subsequent years.
The way it works is children participate in activities at stations set up throughout the Preserve. Western Michigan University students, serving as nature guides, lead the students from station to station where they take samples from Asylum Lake, study water ecology, and learn about invasive species by pulling out garlic mustard plants.
The youngsters also practice journaling and build leadership skills throughout the day.
The elementary students have the opportunity to build relationships with youngsters from other schools as they are encouraged to team up with them for their activities.
About 20 volunteers help make the day possible
The program encourages youngsters to be curious about nature.
The event is organized by the University's landscape services department and president's office. It was created by an employee from each of those units to complement the program developed by the Nature Center and local public schools in partnership with WMU.
What Do These Two Creatures Have In Common?
A Chipping Sparrow and a Gray Frog
You wouldn’t think this frog and chipping sparrow have a lot in common--other than they both live in the Asylum Lake Preserve and they depend on the protection of their habitat here to survive. But they share another trait – they both change their calls or songs when their environment is filled with the noise that we humans make, especially traffic noise.
Since the Asylum Lake Preserve has in fact a lot of background noise, often a whole lot of background noise, it’s a good place to find out about those changes that our animal friends make in something so basic as their calls to each other.
Two graduate assistants in the WMU Biology Department working with WMU Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences Sharon Gill are comparing the calls of the animals at Asylum Lake Preserve with those at a nearby preserve, one which is far away from “anthropogenic noise” (the noise we create).
It’s one of the adjustments animals have to make to our presence that we don't often think about.